Car-coupling



No. 607,731. Patented July 19, I898. P. 6. BROWN.

BAR COUPLING.

(Application filed May 10, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 607,73l. Patented Iuly l9, I898.

P. 0. BROWN. POLISHING MACHINE FOR BROOM HANDLES.

(Application filed May 10, 1897.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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PHILIP 0. BROWN, OF NEW ALBANYJNDIANA,AssIeNOR or ONE-HALF 'ro Josnrn I. IRWIN, or COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 607,731, dated July 19, 1898.

Application filed May 10, 1897. Serial No. 685,777. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP 0. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Gar- Ooupler, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings, more particularly to those couplings shown in Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 542,603, issued to me July 9, 1895, and in the application now pending, Serial No. 606, l74.

In each of the constructions mentioned there is a serious fault. In operation in conjunction with the Ordinary J anney or Master Car-Builders coupler, in which the knuckle is pivoted within the draw-head to one side of the line of draft and held in position by means of a locking-pin, it is impossible to uncouple except by unlocking the Janney knuckle.

The object of my present invention is to so construct the various parts, while still preserving the general form, arrangement, and operation as shown in the prior patent and in the application mentioned, that when the improved coupler is used in conjunction with one of the J anney or Master Oar-Builders type an uncoupling may be eifected by unlocking either one of the cooperating couplers.

A further object is to provide a simple and efficient locking mechanism and to produce various improvements in details of construction, as will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan of myimproved coupler. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2, Fig. 5, both the main and supplemental knuckles being closed. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the supplemental knuckle open. Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is an end elevation with the supplemental knuckle removed. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is aperspecti ve view of the lockingpin. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the supplemental knuckle.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a draw-head provided at one side with the usual guardarm 11. Pivoted at 12, centrally within the draw-head, is the main knuckle, similar in general outlines to the knuckle in my prior constructions, the said knuckle in this case, however, consisting of two portions. Part 13 forms the rear arm and forwardly-extending portion of the main knuckle, and pivoted at 14. to this forwardly-extending portion is a supplemental knuckle 15, the said supplemental knuckle forming a part of the main knuckle and being somewhat similar in general outline to the knuckle of the Janney type of coupler. Supplemental knuckle 15 consists of two arms, arm 16 forming the forward arm of the main knuckle and arm 17 being adapted at its free end to be engaged by any suitable locking means. For the purpose of locking the supplemental knuckle in its closed position I'mount within the'portion 13 a swinging lock-pin 18. Pin 18 may, if desired, be positively pivoted within part 13; but in order to make a more convenient and stronger construction the said pin is rounded upon its lower rear corner and is provided with a short curved downwardlyextending tail 19, which projects into an opening 20, formed in the lower wall of part 13, the said tail operating to prevent the accidental removal of pin 18, but at the same time allowing the easy removal and replacement thereof and in no way hindering the freedom of action of said pin. Pin 18 is so arranged within part 13 that it normally stands at an angle to the vertical, the outer surface 21 thereof lyingimmediately in front of and engaging the outer. end of arm 17 when the supplemental knuckle is in its closed position. In order to force pin 18 backward so as to allow the supplemental knuckle to close, the said pin is so arranged that the free end of arm 17 engages the forward surface 22 of said pin,and thus swings the pin back until surface 23 of the arm 17 passes outside surface 21 of the pin, when, owing to the shape of pin 18, it will drop or will be forced into its normal position in front of arm 17, thus locking the supplemental knuckle in its closed position. In order to positively return pin 18 to the locking position, the said pin is provided at its lower end with a forwardly-extending foot 23", the outer edge of the upper surface 24 of which. is higher than the inner edge thereof, and this surface is so arranged as to be engaged by the lower surface of arm 17 when said arm reaches a certain point in its outward movement. Part 23 of pin 18 is made somewhat wider .than the main portion thereof, so that arm 17 in its outward movement never passes beyond said part. Secured to theupper end of pin 18 is a chain 25, which passes out through an opening 26, formed through the rear wall of the part 13 of the main knuckle. The outer end of chain 25 may be connected with any suitable operating means, but is preferably passed upward and connected with the arm 27 of the operating-rod 28 now commonly in use to operate the locking-pin of the J anney coupler. The shape of the interior of part 13 is such as to support pin 18 when in the locking position.

In using my improved coupler with couplers of the Janney or Master Car-Builders type it is necessary that the supplemental knuckle be thrown open before coupling can be effected. This may be done by hand, as is now customary, or if an automatic action is desired chain 25 is continued, as at 29, with some slack and the end thereof secured to a pin 30, carried by the supplemental knuckle to one side of the center of the pivot 14, the arrangement being such that after pin 18 has been swung back far enough to free the end of arm 17 part 29 of the chain will become taut and a further backward movement of the pin will operate to swing the supplemental knuckle open.

It is to be understood that the above-described construction for automatically opening the supplemental knuckle is not at all essential or needed where two of my own couplers are to be used together, for in such case a coupling may be effected with the supplemental knuckles in any position, either closed or open, the main knuckle (consisting of the part 13 and the supplemental knuckle) being, when the supplemental knuckle is closed, a substantially integral knuckle which acts in the same manner as the knuckle described in my prior patent and in the pending application mentioned, a bringing together of two such knuckles acting first to spread or open the knuckles and then to close them together. The main knuckle is pivoted centrally within the draw-head, the pivot 12 passing through part 13 thereof, and the forward surface of said part 13 extending from the mouth of the draw-head upon both sides of the pivot, as described in the pending application mentioned above. The forward surface of part 13 and the forward surface of arm 16 of the supplemental knuckle have the same contour, so that in backing there will be no tendency to open the knuckles.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the supplemental knuckle of each coupler to be closed and locked in position, so that the main knuckle is substantially an integral structure, the operation in coupling is then the same as described in the patent mentioned, the two knuckles being first forced apart by the action of the forward surfaces of the two arms 16 of the supplemental knuckles, and when so forced apart a continuation of the coupling movement bringing the forward surface of each arm 16 into engagement with the forward surface of part 13, and thereby forcing the two main knuckles together. Suppose now that one or both of the supplemental knuckles should be open. In this case as the two .couplings are brought together the outer corner of arm 16 of each supplemental knuckle comes into contact with the guard-arm of the opposite knuckle and is thereby swung inward,thus bringing the free end of each of said arms 16 into engagement with the arm 17 of the cooperating supplemental knuckle, causing a continued swinging thereof. As the supplemental knuckle closes the free end of arm 17 comes into engagement with surface 22 of pin 18, thereby swinging said pin backward. A continued movement of the supplemental knuckle brings the under surface of arm 17 into engagement with the beveled surface 24 of the foot of pin 18, and thus positively returns said pin to its normal position immediately in front of and engaging surface 23 of arm 17. In order to uncouple, the operator pulls upon the outer end of chain 25 of one of the couplers, thus swinging pin 18 backward away from the end of arm 17. The two couplers may thenbe pulled apart, the l unlocked supplemental knuckle swinging open and the main knuckle swinging as a whole about pivot 12.

The operation of one of my couplers with one of the ordinary Janney or Master Oar- Builders coupler is substantially the same, and the two couplers may be uncoupled by unlocking either the knuckle of the J anney type or the supplemental knuckle of my coupler.

It will be noticed that the locking-pin 18 is swung out of engagement with the supplemental knuckle, so that even should the pin become bent the operation thereof would not be materially affected, as is the case where in the ordinary construction the locking-pin is lifted away from the knuckle through openings formed in the walls of the draw-head. It will also be noticed that said locking-pin may be used in connection with the knuckle of the Janney type, if desired. In my previous couplers the draw-head has been formed with a portion upon the side opposite the guard-arm extending some distance from the medial line of the head and being adapted to embrace a considerable portion of the rear arm of the knuckle. In the present construction that portion of the draw-head has been largely removed and the main knuckle or, rather, the part 13 thereof provided with an extending lip 31, which overlaps the draw- IIO head and thus closes the opening between said head and the knuckle. the weight of the coupler is materially reduced and the appearance thereof greatly improved.

It is to be understood that the term knuckle used in the above specification and in the accompanying claims is used, in the usual car-building sense, to indicate a pivoted portion of a car-coupler having parts extending upon two sides of the pivot thereof, each of the said extending portions being designed and adapted to be operated upon by the opposing coupler to swing the said pivoted portion in one direction or the other about its pivot.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a guard-arm, of a main knuckle pivoted on the draw-head in opposi-v tion to said guard-arm, the said knuckle having arms extending upon two sides of the pivot, one of said arms being arranged to be engaged by the opposing coupler so as to close the said knuckle,and a supplemental knuckle pivoted to the other arm of the main knuckle and forming a part of said main knuckle.

2. 111 a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a guard-arm, of a main knuckle pivoted on the draw-head in opposition to said guard-arm, the said knuckle having arms extending upon two sides of the pivot, one of said arms being arranged to be engaged by the opposing coupler so as to close the said knuckle, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to the other arm of the main knuckle and forming apart thereof, and means for looking said supplemental knuckle to the main knuckle.

3. As an article of manufacture, a locking means for the knuckle of a car-coupler, the said means consisting of a swinging pin adapted to be engaged by the knuckle and swung backward by a closing movement thereof, and provided with aportion adapted to be engaged by said knuckle and thereby returned to its normal position by a continued closing move-- ment of said knuckle.

4. As an article of manufacture, a swinging locking-pin 18, provided with the foot 23, adapted to be engaged by one arm of the knuckle thereby forcing the pin into position, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a guard-arm, of a main knuckle pivoted thereon substantially in the line of draft, the said knuckle having arms extending upon two sides of the pivot, one of said arms being arranged to be engaged by the opposing coupler so as to close said knuckle, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to the other arm of the main knuckle to that side of the line of draft opposite the guardarm, and means for locking said supplemental knuckle to the main knuckle.

6. In a car-coupler, the combination with Bythis means.

the draw-head having a guard-arm, of a main knuckle pivoted thereon in opposition to said guard-arm, the said knuckle having arms extending upon two sides of the pivot, one of said arms being arranged to be engaged by the opposing coupler so as to close said knuckle, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to the other arm of the main knuckle and forming a part thereof,and a swinging pin mounted in the main knuckle, the said pin being so arranged that it may be engaged by one arm of the supplemental knuckle and first swung backward by a closing movement of said supplemental knuckle and then allowed to drop in front of said arm and thereby lock the supplemental knuckle to the main knuckle.

7. In'a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a main knuckle pivoted thereon, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to and forminga part of the main knuckle, and a swinging pin mounted in the main knuckle, the said pin being provided with a portion which may be engaged by one arm of the supplemental knuckle and swung backward by a closing movement thereof, and being also provided with a portion adapted to be engaged by said supplemental knuckle and thereby returned to its normal position, substantially as described.

8. Ina car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head having a guard-arm, of amain knuckle pivoted thereon substantially in the line of draft, the said knuckle having arms extending upon two sides of the pivot, one of said arms being arranged to be engaged by the opposing coupler so as to close said knuckle, a supplementalknuckle, pivoted to the other arm of the mainknuckle, to that side of the line of draft opposite the guardarm, and forming a part thereof, and'a swinging pin mounted in the main knuckle, the said. pin being so arranged that it maybe engaged by one arm of the supplemental knuckle and first swung backward by a closing movement of said supplemental knuckle and then allowed to drop in frontof said arm and thereby lock the supplemental knuckle 'to the main knuckle.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a main knuckle pivoted thereon substantially in the line of draft, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to and forming a part of said main knuckle, the pivotal point of said supplemental knuckle being to the draw-head, of a main knuckle pivoted with the supplemental knuckle and afurther thereon, a supplemental knuckle pivoted to movement of said pin will cause the suppleand forming a part of said main knuckle, a1 mental knuckle to open.

swinging lock-pin mounted in the main PHILIP C. BROWN. 5 knuckle, and a connection between said pin Witnesses:

and supplemental knuckle, whereby the pin 0. A. METZNER,

may first be Withdrawn from engagementi 7 H. O. WALBECK.

Correction m It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 607,731, granted J nly 19, 1898, upon the application of Philip G. Brown, of New Albany, Indiana, for an improvement in Oar-Couplings, an error appears requiring correction, as follows: In sheet 2 of the drawings, the title of invention, Polishing Machine for Broom Handles, should read Car Coupling; and that the said drawing should be read withth is correction therein,

that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

2d day of August, A. 1)., 1898.

\VEBSTER DAVIS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Signed, conntersigned, and sealed this [SEAL] Conntersigned:

A. P. GREELEY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

